Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Monday, July 30, 2012

RIP Don Bagley

RIP Don Bagley

Donald Neff Bagley

American Jazz Bassist

1927 ~ 2012

Donald Neff Bagley was born July 18,1927 in Salt Lake
City the youngest son of Lewis Loraine and Laurance Elaine Bagley. He received
formal training in double bass also earning degrees from Los Angeles City
College and Pierce College also in Los Angeles. Professionally, Don started
with the Hollywood Teenagers in 1944. He then served in the Navy from 1945
until 1949, playing with the Navy band on location as assigned. Following his
time in the service, he played with Stan Kenton from 1950 until 1954 and again
later in his career. Don was a much sought after and admired arranger,
producer, composer and conductor and he continued to work on projects in recent
years and was constantly augmenting his vast knowledge taking classes and
participating in forums and workshops. In his career he worked with Burt
Bacharach, Shelly Manne, Nat King Cole, Dexter Gordon among countless others.
He toured with legendary jazz performers and popular artists including Julie
London, June Christie and Sarah Vaughan. He arranged, played and conducted for
many recordings including Carols De Christmas which went platinum. Don's work
can also be heard in the many movies and T.V. shows, including the score for
the first Spiderman movie. A consummate Jazz bassist, Don released three solo albums,
Basically Bagley, Jazz On The Rocks and Soft Sell. He conducted several
Christmas productions with The London Symphony and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Don was a member of The Songwriter's Guild, The Composers and Lyricists Guild
and The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers where he served on
its board of directors. In addition, he was a long time member of musicians
local 47 in Los Angeles.

Survivors include grandchildren, Jordan, Jasmin,
Celestine and Chanel and 7 great grandchildren. He also leaves many nieces and
nephews in the Salt Lake area who will mark his passing. He was preceded in
death by his daughter Tiffani, his wife Mimi whom he married in 1951, and
siblings Louis, Stuart, John (Jack), Ben, and Marjorie Turner.

Memorial services will be held in the Northridge 1st
L.D.S. Ward, Northridge, Calif., Monday July 30, 2012, at 10 A.M. Graveside
services will be held at Wasatch Lawn; Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wed., August 1,
2012, at 10 A.M.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.